Chapter 22: The group stage belongs to the volleyball team's summer...
The summer for the volleyball club is over, but the summer for the tennis club has just begun.
When going on the expedition, Yukimura spoke a lot, which was rare. His teammates, just like they had done for the past three years, listened attentively and put aside their usual appearances.
"No other team is as dedicated to victory as we are. Even if we stumble temporarily, we will quickly get back up and prove ourselves."
"I once said I had nothing but tennis, but you are all partners as important as tennis—rush to victory, for me, for us, to stand at the top of the world again!"
Yukimura's voice was steady and sincere, with a unique hint of hoarseness, which made everyone look up at him.
Yes, we should have kept you at the top of the country—whatever you failed to do in junior high school, you should have proven again in high school.
The king, Rikkai, will always win!
"Sports TV reports: Today, the highly anticipated Kanto region youth tennis tournament officially enters the county and district representative group stage..."
Yuihara Kaoru jerked her head up, staring intently at the TV screen. The announcer continued, "A powerful team from Kanagawa Prefecture, Rikkai University Affiliated Junior High School, has won a group match. Their captain, freshman Yukimura Seiichi, known as the 'Son of God,' said in an interview—"
"Ahem..." The physics teacher shook the newspaper in his hand, which he was not actually reading, and reminded Yuihara Xiangcheng.
Xiangcheng suddenly lowered his head and continued to compete with the super physics test paper on the table.
Yes, although she had intended to study physics well this week, she'd given herself so much practice that she was often exhausted by the time she got home. Struggling to balance her studies and her hobbies, she failed her physics test on Friday and had to attend tutoring on Saturday, feeling dejected.
Xiangcheng was filled with guilt. Yukimura and the others would always come to cheer her on during every match, but for such an important one, she couldn't be there. Saturday's make-up classes were taking up the teacher's rest time... and she had promised the teacher on Monday that she would study hard.
What will Yukimura and the others' match be like?
"Now we are going to have the second match of Group A, the second doubles match between Kanagawa Prefecture's Rikkai University and Chiba Prefecture's Rokkakuchu."
"The match begins. Rikkai University. Jackal-san serves."
The tennis ball was thrown high up, and Kuwahara jumped on the spot, gathering strength in the tennis racket in his hand. The moment the tennis ball touched the racket, he rushed towards the hexagonal court like a cannonball.
Kuroba Harufu in the hexagon was not in a hurry. Instead, he held the specially made extended racket in his right hand, and after the tennis ball hit the ground and bounced back, he returned it with the same force.
Still wearing the wrist weight, Marui Fumita scurried forward, blocking the ball's path. He held his racket horizontally before him. The tennis ball, blessed by the two powerful players, twitched gently against the racket and quickly leaped onto the net. After a few twirling circles, it landed on its own before the two men from the six-cornered team could reach it. The Rikkai supporters shouted excitedly from the sidelines, "It's 'Tightrope Walking!'"
"15-0! Li Hai takes a big lead."
Marui and Kuwahara high-fived each other. Yukimura, sitting in the coaching booth, crossed his arms as usual, watching the game with a smile on his face.
Very good rhythm, just like that, chase victory at all costs!
In the second group match, Rikkai University once again won 3-0. Meanwhile, after checking her answer sheet three or four times, Yuihara Kaoru nervously handed it to the teacher.
The physics teacher was correcting the papers with a red pen, and he would use tonal sounds like "hmm" or "hmm?" to express his opinions on the questions.
The TV station had already started broadcasting other events. Although she knew that Yukimura and his team were unlikely to lose, Xiangcheng, who could not know the results on the spot, still scanned the TV again and again, hoping to get some useful information from the short message below.
"Not bad!" The physics teacher put the pen cap back on with a smile and returned the test paper with 80 points to her.
Xiangcheng finally breathed a sigh of relief and took the test paper with both hands.
The physics teacher also glanced at the TV and said, "Young man, if you're worried about your boyfriend, try not to take tutoring classes next time~"
"Huh?" Xiangcheng's face flushed. "No, teacher, I don't have a boyfriend."
The physics teacher looked at her suspiciously.
"Misaki-sensei said that you and Yukimura came home together very late this week. How could it be otherwise?"
The heat on Xiangcheng's cheeks quickly spread to the back of her ears: "No, teacher, Yukimura and I are just good friends--"
"Oh, don't be nervous~ It's normal to fall in love~"
The more you explain, the worse it gets.
Xiangcheng thought back to the rainy day. When she came out of the volleyball gym, she saw Yukimura standing in the rain with an umbrella. The rain had soaked his trouser legs, but he stood there, holding the front edge of the umbrella up, gazing at the sky that was about to clear.
"Yukimura..." Hearing her hesitant voice, Yukimura turned around and said, "Let's go."
She didn't listen to him and asked aloud, "Why are you standing outside?"
"Maybe you want to see the rain!" Yukimura said in a relaxed tone, but Kaoru lowered her head as if to avoid him: "I'm sorry... I'm causing you trouble again."
"What do you mean by trouble?" Yukimura stepped forward and pushed his umbrella forward, just enough to wrap Xiangcheng under it. The two looked at each other, and Xiangcheng's face was serious: "Wasting you time - the Kanto Tournament is about to start."
Yukimura Seiichi: "Is it because of 'Ushiwaka'?"
"who?"
"The name you wrote down today, Ushijima Wakari, 'Ushiwaka'."
The solemn atmosphere vanished in an instant, and Xiang Cheng burst out laughing. "What?! That's what I specifically heard about Masuda-san's hobby! I wanted to learn her special moves~"
Yukimura also lost his calm image and laughed along with Kaoru: "Well, I really shouldn't think too much."
"Would you like to have grilled fish today?"
Yukimura retracted his smile and said, "I'm not waiting for you here just to gain your gratitude, Yuihara Kaoru."
"But I would feel guilty," Xiangcheng said seriously, "It shouldn't be like this between friends, Yukimura. A friendship where only one person is truly committed is hard to maintain. You're a very good friend of mine, so I can't take it for granted that you're sacrificing your time to wait for me."
"Is that so?" Yukimura stared into Xiangcheng's deep blue eyes. "In that case, how about you come and watch my training?"
“Huh???”
Yukimura's voice became low: "Don't you want to?"
"I'm willing," Xiangcheng nodded quickly. "Come to think of it, apart from that Hyotei practice match, I haven't had much time to check in on how you guys train!"
The sky in the east suddenly cleared up, forming a perfect rainbow bridge.
Yukimura put away his umbrella and watched Xiangcheng excitedly holding her phone to find the best angle for the photo.
The time moves forward to Sunday.
Xiangcheng, who was let go by the physics teacher, was finally able to get on the cheering bus with his classmates. As the ace club of Rikkai University, when the tennis club went on an expedition, the school would also send two additional buses to pick up students who were cheering for the competition and go to Tokyo together.
Along the way, the girls in their row chatted about everything from zodiac signs to the latest trending stars, making the boring journey even more interesting. Soon, following the reliable guidance of their cheering captain and their beloved class leader, Hayakawa Yuka, they turned several corners in Aomori Sports Park and finally saw the Rikkai University players warming up on the field.
Hayakawa Yuka led a group of boys in distributing yellow cheering sticks. They counted the rows and assigned seats. The taller Yuihara Kaoki and Sakurai Rika conscientiously sat near the back. Once everyone was seated, Hayakawa took a large, rolled-up banner from a boy in the back row and quickly ran to the front row, asking them to help unroll it and making sure they picked it up.
"The class monitor is amazing!" Xiangcheng and Lixiang couldn't help but sigh. A girl nearby said proudly, "Yes, Yuka has a strong sense of collective honor! She organized the cheering in the same way during your volleyball games."
I really didn't notice it... When Hayakawa arranged everything and prepared to sit back in her seat, she saw these two classmates looking at her with tears in their eyes, so moved.
scare?
Hayakawa sat down with doubts.
The competition began. Today's opponent was St. Rudolph's College, a recommended team from Tokyo, the venue. Xiangcheng felt the name was strangely familiar, perhaps because it sounded like a religious school.
Niou and Yagyu were the first to go. In the stands, they, along with the other students, clapped their cheering sticks to the rhythm and shouted their slogan: "Always win Rikkai University! Let's go Rikkai University!"
The game started and everyone quieted down.
Nioh Yagyu's perfect 45-0 set ended. Yuihara Kaoru, staring intently at the tennis ball, blinked back her tired eyes, but a green afterimage of the tennis ball seemed to remain before her. She closed her eyes, letting the green fade into the black world.
When I opened my eyes again, my gaze fell on Yukimura, who was standing with his back to the stands. He seemed to take good care of himself every day, his slightly curly hair combed neatly, and he would habitually accessorize it with a white or green headband.
Today is green... Yukimura suddenly turned around and met the eyes of the dazed Kaoru.
He glanced around the audience calmly before looking away. Xiang Cheng also looked away, ready to continue staring at the tiny tennis ball.
Yukimura lowered his arms from his chest and rested them on his knees. He nodded to Niou and Yagyu, who, accepting his plea to finish the match quickly, quickly adjusted themselves and, rackets in hand, entered the second set.
The author has something to say:
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I wanted to write a good write-up about this match, but suddenly I felt that Rikkai was too weak... It was simply a one-sided abuse of the [novice]. I can only wait until the semifinals or finals!
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